Parables of Jesus
The Great Banquet
Eschatology
Read: Matthew 22:1-14 Luke 14:15-24
SeeThe Parable of the Great Banquet or the Wedding Feast (found in Matthew 22:1–14 and Luke 14:15–24), is not to be confused with a different Parable of the Wedding Feast recorded in the Gospel of Luke. In Matthew, the parable is in reply to the chief priests and Pharisees questioning Jesus' authority, while in Luke, it is in reply to someone saying, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God."
The king signifies God the Father, and his son is Jesus Christ. His bride is the Church, and the invited guests are those who are called to believe. Those guests who were first invited are the Jews, who were called by God's servants (i. e. His prophets) to prepare themselves by penance for the coming of the Messiah. They did not obey the call, for the needed penance, did not please them. Then God, when the Church was founded, sent out other servants, (apostles and disciples), to warn the Jews that "all things were now ready", and that now was the time to enter His kingdom. But, trapped in their carnal ways, the Jews paid no heed to the urgent call; and many of them (the Scribes and Pharisees) persecuted and killed God's servants.
When the apostles were imprisoned, scourged and even put to death (e.g. St. Stephen), God sent the Roman army to execute His judgments on the ungrateful people. The Romans killed a million Jews and destroyed and burnt their city of Jerusalem. Sending His apostles among the Gentiles, (those wandering about, faithless and homeless, God invited them to the feast. These are in increasing numbers, accepting His invitation, and so in time, the wedding feast will be "filled with guests"
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"The Great Banquet"
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